Committee Democrats Urge Chairman Comer to Subpoena DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to Answer for Violent Assault of Sen. Padilla
Washington, D.C. (June 13, 2025)— Today, Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, Acting Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Summer L. Lee, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, led Committee Democrats in sending a letter to Chairman James Comer urging him to demand Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem appear before the Committee to address the violent detention of California Senator Alex Padilla.
The Administration has now detained a mayor, a judge, a union leader, and a U.S. Senator.
“Yesterday we were disturbed to witness another shocking escalation of executive overreach by the Trump Administration. While attempting to ask a question at a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference in Los Angeles, multiple videos show several seemingly unidentified plainclothes men whom we assume to be DHS agents violently push and pull Senator Padilla out of the room where the press conference was being held. Once outside of the room, video shows agents—in this case, wearing FBI insignia—roughly push Senator Padilla to the ground in the hallway, twist his arms behind his back, and handcuff him,” wrote the Members.
According to a statement released by his office, Senator Padilla was performing “Congressional oversight of the federal government’s operations in Los Angeles and across California” when he was assaulted. Despite DHS’s claim that the Senator attempted to ask his question “without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on,” video footage of the assault clearly shows the Senator identifying himself during the assault.
In their letter, the Members urge Chairman Comer to subpoena Secretary Noem if she fails to speak before the Committee and answer to the American people:
“This shocking encounter adds to a litany of alarming moves by the Trump Administration to seize and abuse power, including by turning the military on the American people. The Trump Administration has mobilized the military to the streets of an American city, and any other city could be next. The Trump Administration has violently tackled, kneeled on, and handcuffed a sitting U.S. senator, and any other American could be next. The American people have questions, and we hope you will join us in bringing these dictatorial actions to account. We request that you demand by June 14, 2025, that Secretary Noem to appear before the Committee. If the Secretary does not commit by June 21, 2025, to such testimony, we urge you to issue a subpoena to compel her appearance before the Committee to answer to Congress and the American people,” concluded the Members.
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